21 September 2020
Photo scoopdyga.com
The upheavals of the program this season have not really affected the Compiègne Hurdle Race (Gr3), which will once again play its part one the autumnal return of the best hurdlers around. What is new, however, is that the Grande Course de Haies (Gr1) will follow closely, on October 17, before the Winter finale that has become for the occasion the Grand Prix d'Automne Hurdle Race (Gr1), staged on November 29.
It is on this occasion that defending champion Galop Marin (Black Sam Bellamy) will meet his Nemesis, 5yo mare L’Autonomie (Blue Brésil), who is making her comeback and will try to add an eighth consecutive victory to her recent record.
- 1. GALOP MARIN (g8, IRE by Black Sam Bellamy ex Great Jane, by Great Palm) Weight: 11st 3lbs, Rating: 170lbs
Trained in Normandy by Dominique Bressou, he won the last two renewals of this race and confirmed each time in the Grand Prix d’Automne Hurdle Race (Gr1). Since L’Autonomie showed up in his universe though, he hasn't managed to beat her and looked affected by this. he came back with a win at Craon chasing, however, and will try again here.
- 2. EL GRINGO (g6, FRA by Kamsin ex Cinecitta, by Diesis) Weight: 10st 8lbs, Rating: 161lbs
Trained in La Teste-de-Buch by Jérôme Larrigade, this 2018 Renaud du Vivier 4yo Hudle (Gr1) 4th won his first Parisian Listed event in March, and wonfirmed when pushing L’Autonomie in the Léon Rambaud Hurdle Race (Gr2) after that. He finished 6th then at Compiègne and this is a comeback race.
- 3. PAUL’S SAGA (f6, FRA by Martaline ex Humoriste, by Saint-Cyrien) Weight: 10st 8lbs, Rating: 161lbs
Trained at Chantilly by David Cottin, she's won the most valuable of French Hurdling handicaps. She managed to confirm against the very best hurdlers after that when winning the Carmarthen Hurdle Race (Gr3) on her way to a 2nd place in the Grand Prix d’Automne Hurdle Race (Gr1). She won the Léon Olry-Roederer Hurdle Race (Gr2) and then failed twice last Spring and somehow recovered again, ending last season with a promising 4th in the La Barka Hurdle Race (Gr2) won by Porto Pollo. She has just come back with a good 2nd place at Auteuil.
- 4. L’AUTONOMIE (f5, FRA by Blue Brésil ex L’Automne, by Kahyasi) Weight: 10st 6lbs, Rating: 172lbs
Trained near Royan by François Nicolle, she's the best French hurdler around. She has dominated her generation at 4, and the older ones this term, even at Compiègne in the Hypothèse Hurdle Race (Gr3), her last run to date. She's now on her way to an 8th consecutive victory.
- 5. ECLAIR DU MAFFAY (g6, FRA by Honolulu ex Sleeping Frisk, by Sleeping Car) Weight: 10st 6lbs, Rating: 132lbs
Trained at Chantilly by Patrice Lenogue, she hails from the handicappers' ranks and won her Listed handicap at Auteuil. She now needs to improve again against such competition.
- 6. ECRIS L’HISTOIRE (f6, FRA by Kapgarde ex Toi le Soleil, by Poliglote) Weight: 10st 6lbs, Rating: 141lbs
Trained in the West by Donatien Sourdeau de Beauregard, she beat Paul’s Saga last year in the Christian de Tredern Hurdle Race (Gr3) with slight weight edge. After two lost hurdle races in the Autumn, however, she was converted to chasing and hasn't been too lucky there until now. She is back hurdling now without a Summer spell.
- 7. PORTO POLLO (g5, FRA by Manduro ex Silky Steps, by Nayef) Weight: 10st 3lbs, Rating: 165lbs
Trained near Royan by François Nicolle, he was one of the best French 3yo hurdlers and remains a consistent runner, over both fences and hurdles. He has got a hard time winning at the top level though but found his day when L’Autonomie was out of the La Barka Hurdle race (Gr2) after two good races in the Léon Rambaud Hurdle race (Gr2) and the Hypothèse Hurdle Race (Gr3).
- 8. COTÉE SUD (f5, FRA by Lord du Sud ex Turbulence, by Turgeon) Weight: 9st 11lbs, Rating: 152lbs
Trained at Royan by Arnaud Chaillé-Chaillé, she's been a second to L’Autonomie many times last year and still looks slightly below here against older foes as well. She's not had a run since May
- 9. BYZANCE DU BERLAIS (f5, FRA by Martaline ex Bonita du Berlais, by King’s Theatre) Weight: 9st 11lbs, Rating: 143lbs
Trained at Chantilly by Robert Collet, she was also under L’Autonomie's shade last season and finds it ever hard to win a big one since she's had to beat older rivals.